Launching Joe Ganech's website was a major objective of the event. Over joyed he could join us from Brussels via live-stream. All our dignitaries got one to one time with Joe. Check out his site.
Wednesday 20th September
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Up early again and reflecting on the success of yesterday, mentally checking that all of my aims and objectives for this exercise were covered - they were. Checked and responded to emails and did social media catchup.
Dawn Booth came round to have a tea and chat and to collect her easel. Dawn and Marcus, as fellow artists had an inspiring conversation. Family always comes first in whatever she thinks or does. I had appointment to meet a wood-turner and his wife in the afternoon at Beeston Canalside Heritage Centre to see his beautiful products with a view to stocking them in CHC shop so took photos and gathered info to give to Ops Manager Jenny Aldrich for her to decide. Had nap. Later on met up with Peter Bullock (of Peter’s Shoes & purchaser of Joe’s Robin Hood canvas) and friend Sapphire, in city centre to discuss future potentialities and ate wonderful oven-baked Italian pizza at Piccolino’s, a lovely surprise treat by Peter.
Thursday 21st September Met up with co-workers Caron Lyon and Sapphire Eagle at my place for catch up and future planning and then went over to do volunteer shift at CHC 1.30-4.00pm meeting and greeting and coffee/tea shop duties. I brought Caron and Sapphire over there to see the place as was their first visit, and then each went their separate ways. It was a busy afternoon looking after CHC visitors who came in out of the rain to enjoy hot drinks and delicious cakes and scones. Back home for a nap. Then off back to CHC at 7pm for an Arts meeting, always great brain storming sessions ably chaired by artist/designer Dr Janet Barnes. Back home but totally forgot to watch weekly episode of ‘Outlander’ first series 9 - 10.15pm on More4 channel! Jamie Fraser (Sam Heughan) I absolutely adore!
Friday 22nd September First thing this morning, a flurry of emails/messages/telephone calls to organise timing of photoshoot outside Peter’s Shoes shop in Nottingham with Adam Greenwood ( our Robin Hood) and Peter Bullock accompanied by Christopher Frost, reporter and photographer for The Beestonian. We did it amazingly between 1-2pm and what a fantastic fun time we had. Chris, you did a superb job!! Big thank you’s too to Adam and Peter, great acting/posing! Peter invited me for lunch at the lovely Caffe Thea and I readily accepted. More great ideas and brainstorming! I do love spontaneity!
Saturday 23rd September Up early and back to my Chrome Book! West Bridgford Wire notifies me at 8.30am that Christopher Frost’s article and photograph is published! The Outlaw and the Shoemaker. Chris, what a great title and write up! Immediately I post on social media. Fantastic responses came in immediately on FB, and LinkedIn and Likes/Retweets on Twitter. Everyone loves it, and of course Joe’s Robin Hood art! Then it was back to my finishing my first Blog! This here. What do you think? Have you read part 1 and part 2? Linked at the end of this post! ​A very busy and ACTive week for me and the A-Team as you can see!! So enjoyable and so much fun had by all!
Conclusion Those of you who read this, ACT does need more partners, sponsors, funders, friends and new Board with stakeholders to enable us to go where the ACTion is and needs are, and for myself to travel to more countries to help children’s education and people’s awareness of the importance of art, cultural and artisan heritage, and of course improve/increase their incoming tourism. This will be achieved via The Ghost Bus Films & Roads Projects introducing Nottingham’s Robin Hood to the World. Nottingham has three Robin Hoods who represent our city’s heritage so just one will hopefully accompany me, and Roberto Alborghetti, who is the producer of the Ghost Bus Films/Roads project, in conjunction with ACT and Bartons plc. So the three of us. Countries who have already approached me/ACT, over the last two years, to collaborate with them on art culture and tourism projects are Ghana, Rwanda, Mexico, Egypt, America, Canada, and certain Asian countries. I know there will be more. I’m here to read your views, analyse and respond positively to achieve our missions and of course your’s. So let’s do it! Let’s grow naturally together, and go with the flow...nothing forced.
​Read next: Part 2 - The Cultural Lions Roar
Photo appearances from the left: Marcus Gilmore, Lord Mayor Cllr Michael Edwards, Joe Ganech (on screen), Robin Hood (Adam Greenwood) and Sheriff of Nottingham, Glyn Jenkins.
Tuesday 19th September
The BIG day of the ACT Artists Launch for Joe Ganech and Marcus Gilmore at Nottingham’s Tourism Information Centre (TIC).
Up early-ish and woke up Marcus! Proper breakfasts.
Our itinerary was written down to get us through this ACTion packed day. Off first to University of Nottingham campus Students Union Print Shop to see Edward to collect Joe’s latest prints of Lord Byron and Marcus’s A3 Nottingham Poster which we added to our others already mounted and so ready to put on TIC’s shelves.
Parked car at Lace Market car park and then trotted by THiNK at Cobden Chambers, Pelham Street to collect my camera ( which I inadvertently left there last week) before walking down to the TIC for 10.30am to see Caron Lyon of PCM creative already setting up her mobile live-streaming kit. Mt first meet and greet was to welcome Sapphire Eagle to the ACTion fold. Simon Redgate, TIC Manager, was already busy with assistant Michael welcoming and serving visitors. The Lord Mayor Cllr Michael Edwards and Sheriff of Nottingham, Glyn Jenkins arrived soon after and got stuck in meeting everyone. Joe Ganech joined up in the the live-stream green room from Brussels, and we were all set.
11 O'clock was LIVE transmission kick-off with Caron announcing... all ACTion Go!
​This is how the event panned out (Caron's mini vlog below)
Joe's blog post - Nottingham Dignitaries Join Joe
West Bridgford Wire's Article - The Outlaw and the Shoemaker in Nottingham
Well done Joe in Brussels and Marcus, and of course Caron for a magnificent staged production with onlookers and participants around the world. Thank you to The Lord Mayor and Sheriff who did a magnificent job of representing our city of Nottingham and introducing Joe and Marcus as Cultural Lions as part of the Nottingham’s European Capital of Culture Bid 2023. Tremendous leadership by The Lord Mayor and insightful knowledge about the city which he proudly spoke about to our global audience. And thank you so much Peter Bullock of Peter’s Shoes who actually purchased Joe’s magnificent 30 x 30 ins canvas of Robin Hood - Prince of Nottingham. He proudly picked it up and said he was going to display it in his shop window the next day! Such a great reception for our represented artists and thank too must go to Simon Redgate who we are so grateful to as our main host. It all finished with a flourish and happy smiles of achievement soon after 12.00 leaving several very hungry artists ready for lunch. So off we all went to Thea Cafea (down alleyway aside Peter’s Shoes) for welcome and deserved foods and drinks. ​​
Saturday 16th September Relaxing in readiness for Art Photographer Sara Gaynor’s 50th Birthday Bash at Beeston’s award-winning restaurant Roya on Wollaton Road, with best friend and fine artist Pam Miller. Well what a joyous celebratory occasion it was... fantastic company of about 30 of Sara’s friends and family with 1967 Summer of Love music flowing out continuously. Marvellous vegetarian Persian inspired food, impeccable personal service by Roya, and riveting conversations and laughter. So much singing along to those memorable songs of Donovan, Procol Harem, Beach Boys, Small Faces, Led Zeppelin, Beatles…..you get the picture, well hear the music! Pam and I were worn out come 10.30pm and slipped out leaving about 20 to have another blast of a party and disco dancing. There was a beautiful interlude when talented sitar player, Lance Hume, quietened us all down with his karma presence and music playing.
Sunday 17th September
Sunday was quiet uneventful by my standards. No hang-over as I only drank water previous night at the birthday party, so my sleep-in was a pleasant one. I went for a stroll with artist Marcus Gilmore, my son and his girlfriend Annie to the Beeston canal, five minutes away, to the weir cottages now known as Beeston Canalside Heritage Centre, admired the views and breathed in the fresh air of the park with the meandering River Trent alongside. Then we cooked up some glorious food together to appease our renewed appetites.
Monday 18th September Up early with the lark to write my ACTion list for the day. Responded to all my emails and attended to social media. Chased up last minute press to find out whether they were or were not attending Tuesday’s ACT Press/Promo Launch in Nottingham city centre. I had sent out press releases and Joe Ganech Robin Hood image a week before so needed certain confirmations. Also chased up several invited VIPs to check whether they were attending. I enjoy telephone liaison and getting to the immediate point. I Like to know where I stand especially before an important art and cultural event or exhibition. ​At 5pm Marcus and I went over to artist Dawn Booth’s house in Chilwell to collect her easel for the next day (to display Joe Ganech’s Robin Hood - Prince of Nottingham 30 x 30 ins printed canvas). Also of course keeping it social having a delightful coffee and chat with Dawn and hear more about her exciting exhibitions taking place in Tuscany and most recent one in London. Her art is so lively and colourful and above all, happy. Love it all...and it shows she enjoys every journey it takes her on.